Sumit Nagal rises to career-high ATP ranking of 95

Sumit Nagal, the rising star of Indian tennis, achieved a personal milestone on Monday as he climbed two spots to reach a career-best ranking of 95 in the latest ATP rankings. This significant improvement in his ranking comes just in time for the ATP 250 Marrakech tournament.

The 26-year-old reached the 97th position in the rankings last month following a remarkable performance at the Chennai Open. He emerged victorious in the ATP Chennai Open Challenger singles event, resulting in a jump from 121st to 98th place. It is noteworthy that only 10 Indian men have achieved a top 100 ranking since the establishment of ATP rankings in 1973.

Despite making a strong start at the Miami Open, Nagal was unable to maintain his momentum in the next round of qualifiers against Coleman Wong. He had defeated 6′ 8″tall Canadian Diallo in straight sets, giving him the chance to achieve his career-best ranking of 92, but unfortunately, the Indian athlete was unable to secure the win.

Nagal’s entry into the main draw of Indian Wells was a result of Rafael Nadal’s last-minute withdrawal. Unfortunately, his loss to Milos Raonic did not benefit his chances.

Sumit Nagal Makes History by Advancing to Australian Open Second Round

In January, the 26-year-old tennis player caught everyone’s attention at the Australian Open by advancing to the second round for the first time in his professional career. He also made a significant mark in the tournament, becoming the first Indian in 35 years to defeat a seeded player in a Grand Slam event.

Despite giving a glimpse of a bright future by beating then-world number 27 Alexander Bublik in straight sets, his campaign ended in the second round with a 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 4-6 defeat against China’s Juncheng Shang.

The second-round match lasted for a total of two hours and 50 minutes, but ultimately Juncheng Shang emerged as the victor.

After emerging victorious at the Chennai Open, Sumit Nagal faced a defeat in the semi-final of the Bengaluru Open and also lost in the pre-quarter-final to Niki Poonacha. He is now preparing to compete at the ATP 250 Marrakech, which is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2024.